Folding crate.



No. 643,562. Patented Feb, I3, 1900. 2. s. TAYLOR & u. w. mooma.

FOLDING CRATE.

(Application filed Aug. 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets$heet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 643,562. Patented Feb. 13, I900. Z. B. TAYLOR &. O. W. MOORE.

FOLDING CRATE.

(Apphcatmn filed Aug 17 1899 (No Model.) 2 Shaets8heot 2.

3 mien tom no WASHINGYON u c NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ZANE BLAND TAYLOR AND ORLANDO W. MOORE, OF ORBISONIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,562, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed August 17, 1899- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ZANE BLAND TAYLOR and ORLANDO W. MOORE, citizens of the United States, residing at Orbisonia, in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to folding crates.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production and which when not in use may be folded into small compass, thereby materially reducing the cost of transportation and storage.

To this end the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of our improved crate, showing it set up for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing it folded for storage or transportation. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one corner of the crate, showing the modified form of hinge-joints. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail perspective views of several parts of the hinge-joints. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view through one of the end pieces of the top and one of the longitudinal pieces of the top, showing the manner in which the end piece of the top and the longitudinal piece of the top are connected. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken through the top section of the crate, looking toward one end thereof.

In the drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

1 denotes the bottom of the crate, provided with longitudinal side pieces 2, having hinged studs 3 at their ends and apertures 4. extending at right angles to the studs 3. If desired, the studs may be formed of the same material as the side pieces, and the apertures may be bored through the ends of the side pieces,

as shown in Fig. 1; or if it be desired to pro- Serial No. 727,524. (No model.)

0 vide a stronger construction we may secure to the end pieces an angular plate 5, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and provide this angular plate with a transverse hole and a stud.

6 denotes the sides of the crate, the end pieces 7 of which are provided with apertures 8 to take the studs 3. If desired, instead of forming the ends with the apertures 8 we may secure to the ends a metallic socket-plate 9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and form in the lower end of the socket-plate an aperture to receive the stud of the angular plate 5 1O denotes the end pieces, the lower rail 11 of which is formed with studs 12 to engage the apertures 4, made in either the side pieces 2 or the angular piece 5.

13 denotes the top of the crate, which consists of two parts, each of which consists of end pieces 14, longitudinal rails 15, and connecting rods or bars 16. The outer ends of the end pieces 14 are pivoted to studs 17, which may be formed of the same material as the upper longitudinal rail of the side pieces or which,as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, may be formed on a metallic piece 18,secu red to the ends of the upper rail. Both longitudinal rails of each section of the top project into transverse apertures 19, formed in the end pieces 14, and have pins 20, that project downward through apertures 21, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7, so that each of the top sections has a sliding movement in the end pieces 14, for a purpose hereinafter to appear. One of the top sections is provided with a hinged 'door 22, by means of which access may be had to the interior of the crate.

The upper rails 11 of the end pieces are provided with studs 23, that fit into corresponding apertures 24 of the end pieces of the sides of the crate to form a look-joint.

25 denotes studs arranged upon the upper edge of the upper rail of the end pieces and which are adapted to engage the inner rails of the top sections and hold them in place.

26 denotes aspring-actuated bolt carried by one of the top sections and adapted to engage a socket 27 in the inner rail of the other section, and thereby lock the two sections against upward movement. This bolt is provided with an operating-handle 28, by means of which it may be retracted. The free end of the bolt is guided in one of the connecting cross-rods 29.

3O denotes a single bolt which is carried by one of the side sections and is adapted to be shot into an aperture 31 in the top rail of the other side section, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby locking the parts in folded position. v

32 denotes slots formed in the side pieces 2 to receive the studs of the upper rail of the end pieces when the end pieces are folded down.

Vhen it is desired to set the crate up for use from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, the sides are first folded outward and the ends then swung vertically and the top swung over the end pieces and the rails 15 of the tops drawn toward each other until the inner rails are passed over and engage the lugs on the upper rail of the end pieces. The spring-actuated bolt of one of the top sections is now engaged with the hole in the inner rail of the top section, and it will be noticed that in swinging the side sections upward the holes in their upper ends are caused to receive the studs at the ends of the upper rails of the end sections, thus locking the said end sections against movement, and when the inner rails of the top sections are passed over and engaged with the studs on the upper edge of the upper rails of the end sections the side sections will be prevented from swinging down, and when the bolt of one of the top sections is engaged with the hole in the inner rail of the other top section the top sections are prevented from being raised, thus forming a secure look, so that the crate will not be accidentally collapsed.

In folding the crate from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2 the bolt 26 of the top sections is actuated to release the top sections, and the top sections are then disengaged from the studs on the upper edge of the upper rails of the end sections. The end sections are then swung downward within the body and against the bottom of the crate. The rails 15 of the top sections are then slid inward in their end pieces 14 and are then swung downward parallel with the side sections, and the side and top sections when in this position are then swung down upon the bottom of the crate above the folded end sections and are locked by the bolt 30.

Vhen the crate is made of certain proportions, it is not necessary to have the rails 15 of the top sections slide in the end pieces 14; but where the crate is made much wider without changing the height it is evident that unless some provision is made for moving the rails 15 in an outward direction when it is desired to fold the crate it will be impossible to fold the top sections down against the sides of the side sections and then fold the two fiat upon the end sections. This could not be done for the reason that the inner rails 15 would abut against the folded end sections and prevent the complete folding of the side sect-ions.

It will of course be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the Ininor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be seeu red by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding crate, the combination with the body having longitudinal pieces along its edges, side sections hinged to the ends of said pieces, end sections hinged to the ends of said pieces, top sections having their end pieces hinged to the upper ends of said side sections, the longitudinal rails of said top sections having a sliding engagement in the end pieces of said top sections, and means for locking the parts together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding crate, the combination with the body having longitudinal side pieces, end sections hinged to the side pieces, side sections hinged to the .side pieces at a point above the connection of the end sections with the side pieces, studs carried by the ends of the upper rails of the end pieces and projecting through sockets or apertures formed in the end pieces of the side sections, studs projecting from the upper rail of the end pieces, top sections consisting of end pieces pivoted to the side sections, and a grated frame having a sliding engagement with the end pieces of the top sections and adapted to engage with their inner rails the studs on the upper edge of the upper rails of the end sections, and a spring-actuated bolt carried by one of the top sections and adapted to engage the hole or keeper in the opposite top section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ZANE BLAND TAYLOR. ORLANDO \Y. MOORE.

Witnesses:

P. R. BARKLE, WJG. BOLINGER. 

